WHERE MOUNTAINS RISE THE STARS GET SHARPER. TWO EPIC DAYS OF HIGH-ALTITUDE POWERHOUSE PERFORMANCE TIPS, BOLD BENCHMARKING, AND SHARP STRATEGY SHARING
More than forty key CARSTAR shop owners and managers, alongside leading vendor and supplier partners, gathered in Whistler, B.C., for the latest edition of the Restore the Star meeting—a high-altitude strategy session designed to sharpen shop performance and strengthen the network’s competitive edge.
Held April 21 to 23 at the Westin Resort & Spa, the event offered two packed days of financial benchmarking, high-level business discussions and trend forecasting, all under the guidance of Driven Brands’ senior leadership.
The agenda kicked off with a welcome reception Monday evening, setting the tone for a collaborative, results-focused gathering. Tuesday’s sessions centred around profi tability, with attendees diving deep into financial data, margin trends and actionable ways to boost bottom-line performance. Throughout the day, participants were encouraged to bring their laptops and notepads—and their ideas.
Wednesday’s agenda pivoted to partnerled sessions with insights from Dekra, TD, 3M and Betag followed by robust Hot Topics panels. Open-fl oor conversations explored major industry shift s including AI integration, global tariff s, and the evolving expectations around shop certifi cations and compliance.
“This kind of focused, in-person collaboration helps us raise the bar not just for CARSTAR shops, but for the entire collision repair industry,” said Dave Foster, senior vicepresident, collision for Driven Brands. “Our franchisees are eager to share best practices and find new efficiencies—and meetings like Restore the Star give us the space and structure to do that.”
Throughout the event, shop owners exchanged lessons learned from across the country, identifying shared challenges and collective solutions. The casual evening gatherings gave everyone a chance to unwind, connect and refocus on common goals. “Restore the Star is more than just a meeting,” added Foster. “It’s where leaders come to build the future—together.”
Th e next iteration of the Restore the Star series is already in the works, promising to build on the momentum sparked in Whistler.
— Dave Foster, senior vice-president, collision for Driven Brands
